tuesdays

On this course we will explore Meditation and Mindfulness from a variety of perspectives. There will be a different theme each week. Including: Looking at how we can use our breath. Aspects associated with the root chakra. The purpose of compassion. Yoga and the breath. Buddhism. Visualisation.

Native American Indians were important in the settlement of the West. Various immigrant groups found the West a place that would fill their hopes and dreams. By examining how the West moved at the end of the nineteenth century there will be an opportunity to learn more about how each group of settlers impacted on the lives of the Native American Indians. Mormons, homesteaders, ranchers,miners and railway workers all met and interacted with tribes such as the Lakota Sioux and the Mandans. The impact of the American Army on the Sioux towards the end of the nineteenth century will be examined as will changing government policies The culture of the Plains Indians and their interaction with the environment will be part of the course.

This course will look at the various artist communities that evolved across Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; From Concarneau and Pont Aven in Brittany to Skagen in Denmark to Newlyn in England. We will evaluate the outstanding paintings produced by artists ranging from Gauguin to Laura Knight, and consider the impact these essentially rural colonies had on early modern art.

Find out about Elizabeth I’s love affair with Robert Dudley; their imprisonment in the Tower during the reign of Mary I; the death of Amy Robsart and Elizabeth’s relationship with her cousin Lettice Knollys who was banished upon her marriage to the earl of Leicester. Consider the question that the King of France asked – “Is Queen Elizabeth a maid or no?” Delve into the way Dudley carved a political and military career for himself as well as breaking free of Elizabeth to make his own marriage. Explore the complexities of their relationship. When he died in 1588, Elizabeth shut herself away with grief. An opportunity to consider the private life of royalty and the impact of a traitor’s son and grandson upon the politics of the period as well as to look at the way in which the scandal of “Sweet Robin” resonates down the centuries.

We will examine and experience a wide range of mindfulness and meditation themes and consider which might be relevant and useful to you personally. You will be able to experience relaxing your mind with guided meditation, as well as developing the ability to focus on what is happening within and around us, and we will explore simple ways of including mindfulness in everyday life.

Untangle the thorny path of the battles between the Houses of York and Lancaster. Meet Richard of York who gave battle in vain, his sons Edward IV, George drowned in a vat of wine and Richard III as well as the saintly Henry VI. Follow Margaret of Anjou and Margaret Beaufort in their quest for power. Encounter the men, women, turncoats and victims of a family war and begin to investigate the growing importance of legal process, parliament and propaganda in the Plantagenet and Tudor quest to rule the kingdom.

Each week we will study in depth two works of art. The works will be by different artists who may have been contemporaries, possibly rivals, or simply members of a movement. Alternatively they may be separated by hundreds of years. The works themselves may be famous or obscure. They may share common themes or subject matter, compositional approaches, or some external link. You will have no prior knowledge of the works and will therefore explore the possible connections between the two works and their creators from scratch. You will have access to primary sources, other works by the artists, and critical analysis to help you discuss and formulate ideas. This study in microcosm will enable you to find out about the art world these artists worked in and how their work fits into the broader trend of art history.

We will examine the interaction of colonists to the Americas and their relationships with native populations, as well as exploring the impact of colonising nations on the lives of North and South American Indians. This will include Spanish, English and French colonial attempts to settle the Americas. Where appropriate key individuals such as George Washington will be assessed. The growth of the colonies and their development will be examined, plus the events surrounding the American and French Revolutions, particularly where they link to Native American Indians.

Potentially the tool of powerful political or religious figures, meet the heirs of Henry VIII and the Tudor dynasty in a period seething with intrigue, turbulence and ambition with a view to untangling the characters and relationships behind the throne for the decade from 1547 until 1558.

America changed considerably in the late 1960s and 1970s. By studying key events like the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War we can begin to understand what life was like for both politicians and citizens.

Two paintings by two artists: each interesting in their own right, but connected. Students will need to do some research and detective work to find out what the paintings are about and how they might be linked.

This course will take you on a journey starting with the Earth and explaining the essential building blocks needed for life to exist. Next you will explore the solar system and the Milky Way, moving on to look at the observable universe and current views about what the universe is made of. Einstein’s theory of relativity and the Big Bang will also be part of our study. You will learn about the night sky and how to make sense of it as well common types of telescopes, and may have the chance to use a special telescope to look at the Sun. It may also be possible to visit a local observatory subject to availability.

1st July 1916 saw the start of one of the greatest and most memorable battles of WW1. We will examine how the battle came to be fought, analyse its progress and outcomes and consider its results in the context of the whole war, and view part of the film ‘The Battle of the Somme’ released by the government in August 1916.

To enrol for this day school please send payment to the WEA Derby Office:

All cheques payable to: WEA Derby Branch – please do NOT include with course fees.

America in the 1960s was full of turbulence and excitement; a time of hope for some and, for others, a dangerous decade. The United States underwent momentous change especially in the arena of Civil Rights. Without the activity of Martin Luther King and others would the USA have been able to elect a President Barack Obama?

Find out how Thomas Cromwell gave Henry VIII his divorce and dissolved the monasteries; how Cranmer changed what the English believed and what happened to some of the people who failed the king or objected to the transformation.